London, Apr. 20 - This is a story of its own kind, rather the first occasion when Her Majesty the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II chose to celebrate her birthday one day ahead on Wednesday when her actual birthday falls on April 21.

To celebrate this occasion, a novel procedure was adopted by the Royal Palace of the Queen who invited applications from anyone who was born on April 21, 1926, the day when the then Princess Elizabeth of York arrived in the world.

It was celebrated one day earlier on Wednesday by inviting 99 guests for a lunch hosted by the Queen.  All the invitees were born on the same day when she was born, a unique way to celebrate the birthday of a Queen.

Prime Minister Tony Blair led tributes to the Queen in the House of Commons, and BBC TV ran a two-hour special on her life. Although the Queen has no political powers, she has become a symbol of stability in tumultuous times, she has turned 80 today and has no intention to leave the throne for her son Prince Charles.

The new arrival on 21st April 1926 was a beautiful minor royal, only third in line of succession and she never expected to ascend to the throne. Probably that was due to the gesture of her Uncle David.

Eight decades later and contrary to what David Cameron said in his Commons tribute yesterday, she is the fourth-longest reigning monarch in our history and has been since June 2002, when she surpassed the 50-year tenure of Edward III. Pedants prefer to put her in fifth place, as they like to count James VI's 36 years on the Scottish throne before he was lured south in 1603 for a further 22 years as James I.

Her lunch companions were chosen by ballot to ensure a fair representation of every part of the kingdom. Each was allowed to bring one spouse or companion and they were treated to drinks with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in the Picture Gallery followed by a three-course meal, eaten off solid silver plates, usually reserved for state banquets, in the ballroom, as per Palace release.

As per Alan Hamilton, The times, the guests gave off excitement like steam from broth. "I feel wonderful; this is something I never dreamed of," Doreen O'Leary, a great-grandmother from Oswestry, Shropshire, said. "I've known all my life that I shared my birthday with the Queen, but today I feel quite emotional.

"I've led a totally different life to the Queen; I've worked hard all my life."
But Lilly Lund, from the village of Airmyn in East Yorkshire, had a different view. "It's wonderful to share the same birthday as the Queen; it's been special for me, especially as a child, to be told the flags were flying for me on my birthday. I've had a very different life to the Queen; I think she's had a harder life than I did."

The Queen gave a slight hint of emotion as she welcomed her guests, speaking of the support of family and friends that she had received over the years. Private conversations flowed freely.

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